nationalists

Political strength of nationalists means question of island’s status may have to be finally addressed by Paris.

Protest organisers said up to 25,000 people attended the demonstration in the island's capital Ajaccio ahead of Tuesday's presidential visit. 

Elections to decide the makeup of a new regional assembly on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica have resulted in a resounding win for an alliance of nationalists who want greater powers of autonomy and the introduction of preferential treatment for locals, such as in access to housing. 

Group led by autonomist leader Gilles Simeoni won 45.36% of the votes for newly-created, more powerful local assembly on French island.

Senior politician on the French Mediterranean island wants to impose strict limits on property purchases and prohibited zones for non-residents.

Manuel Valls says bombings of holiday homes on Corsica on Friday was 'a kind of racism', implicitly implicating nationalists over the attacks.